|
|
|
|
|
Some still determined to complete Char Dham pilgrimage
4,00O reach Shantikunj from Kedarnath
First batch of pilgrims allowed to complete Mansarowar yatra
|
|
|
Provide adequate monetary aid to evacuated persons: DM
An Army officer provides relief material to evacuated people at Kalapani. A Tribune Photograph
Singhal: Leave Temple restoration to saints
CM’s assurance to relatives of stranded persons
Anxious relatives await arrival of calamity-hit pilgrims
MC proposes amendment in Municipal Traffic Control Act
Five-day training workshop on bamboo ringal begins
|
|
Some still determined to complete Char Dham pilgrimage
Haridwar, June 24 The determination of these pilgrims is quite commendable even when thousands have died in the disaster and similar number are stranded in the Garhwal hills. The Char Dham pilgrimage comprising Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and Hemkund Sahib has been called off owing to the natural calamity. The Tribune team met few rescued pilgrims at dharamshalas, ashrams and relief camps in Haridwar. The pilgrims have been given shelter, relief aid, medical treatment and are being sent to their respective destinations free-of-cost. Daiji Nimbha (60), a resident of Nashik, Maharashtra, who got stuck in the midst when heavy rain lashed the Char Dham region, terms her experience as one in a lifetime. He, along with his 50-odd relatives, had visited the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines. Nimbha recalls, "We were stuck in Gangotri for five days as a major portion of the road got swayed. We walked on foot till the Harshil helipad and then via helicopters of the Indian Army, we were brought to the Jolly Grant Airport, Rishikesh, yesterday. Still we wanted to complete the Char Dham pilgrimage when it gets restored. We would book our own bus rather than relying on travel agencies, he added. While Kailash Devi, a resident of Nashik, said, "We saw many people going missing during the pilgrimage and the memories of this trauma seems to be resurfacing every now and then." She says everyone should pray and help the Army in this situation as everyone is not lucky like them to get evacuated from the disaster-hit hilly terrain areas. Pilgrims said many lives could be saved if an intense search operation was carried out. There were still many places were stranded pilgrims were waiting for help. Mansukh Lal Verma, a resident of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, who survived from the Kedarnath shrine premises, said though the nature fury had put a halt to the pilgrimage, but he hoped that all stranded people were rescued and whenever the yatra opens again devotees would once again throng to seek blessings at Kedarnath Dham. Gauri Bai, a resident of Chatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, said they were caught in the midst of heavy rain at Gaurikund. We took refuge in a nearby village, but as the water-level increased, heavy deluge swept away the entire village. Fortunately, they treaded a higher mountainous terrain on time and got saved from swaying in the flood water. We were without food for three days, she added. She hoped that local people and other pilgrims were alive and rescued. Deepak Barmola, who works as an assistant in the Garhwal Mandal Owners Union Limited bus service, got stuck at Gaurikund said despite the natural calamity, majority of pilgrims wanted to come again. He along with other passengers reached Haridwar via Tehri-Ghansali alternate route two days back. Pilgrims showed courage and battled out with limited ration and clothing for five days, he said. But it was quite surprising that the pilgrims, not taking into account the traumatic experience they underwent in this fortnight, were still enthusiastic to visit the shrine again as and when the yatra resumes.
|
|
4,00O reach Shantikunj from Kedarnath
Haridwar,June 24 Shantikunj has been operating free relief camp on its premises at Haridwar where till date 4000 pilgrims have been benefited and stayed since their arrival,after rescue operations were started. Yesterday evening a batch of 563 pilgrims from Kedarnath region, which is the most- affected one, arrived at Shantikunj who are being provided with free medicines, food, ration, water bottles, clothes and other essential commodities. They are also being asked to stay till transport facility is available to their respective places. 1,500 pilgrims have also been given financial assistance from Shantikunj ,so that they could reach their homes safely and timely. Till date, as per Shantikunj spokesperson, one lakh pilgrims and local inhabitants have been benefited from the 9 relief camps being operated in the state by the organisation. Shantikunj is also operating free food services at various places including Agust Muni and in Haridwar. Head of Gayatri Parivar,Dr Pranav Pandya said pilgrims should consider Shantikunj as their own home and as Uttarakhand is witnessing natural calamity Shantikunj is open to all assistance both to affected people and the government. Dr Pandya added that ration and food packets numbering 75,000 made in Shantikunj by volunteers have been sent for stranded pilgrims, locals and the Army personnel indulged in the rescue operations. A special Hindu ritual ‘tarpan’ was also offered today at Shantikunj for those who died in Gangotri,Kedarnath,Badrinath,Rudraprayag and other places. Shradh tarpan and special condolence prayers were held, where peace to the souls of the deceased and fast recovery of injured was sought and mass chanting of Gayatri Mahamantra was also recited.
|
|
First batch of pilgrims allowed to complete Mansarowar yatra
Pithoragarh, June 24 The sources said the advance movement of the first batch, which reached the Kalapani camp on its way to Kailash Mansarowar today, was decided by the Union Ministry of External Affairs but the timing of its crossing over to Tibet was yet to be decided as Chinese officials had already been told about the suspension of the yatra this year due to harsh weather conditions. “Only when the Indian government requests China to receive the first batch of pilgrims, they will come at Lipulekh Pass to receive it,” said DK Sharma, GM (tourism), KMVN. Sharma added the decision about the rest of batches would be taken on July 2 when the External Affairs Ministry talks to the agencies concerned about the arrangements for the pilgrimage. Initially, the first batch was reduced from 53 to 51 at the Bundi camp after two pilgrims fell ill there. “The ill pilgrims are being taken by ITBP personnel to the base camp at Dharchula,” said Sharma.
|
|
Provide adequate monetary aid to evacuated persons: DM
Dehradun June 24 He gave these instructions at a meeting with officials concerned with regard to arrangements for pilgrims evacuated from disaster-hit areas and their family members and the relief amount disbursed to them. SSP Kewal Khurana was also present on this occasion. Purushottam directed the Tehsildar, Dehradun, to arrange for a loudspeaker at the Sahastardhara helipad so that the family members of the stranded pilgrims could clearly hear announcements made regarding the rescue operations clearly. The SSP said more policemen would be deputed on the spots where the stranded pilgrims were brought after evacuation. He added photos and details of those who went missing in the disaster would be kept in the record. The District Magistrate said he was getting complaints that drivers of local buses were charging more fare from the pilgrims to drop them at their destinations. He said a checking drive would be started in Rishikesh in this regard and the erring drivers would be punished. He directed the employees to contact the pilgrims coming from Mussoorie at the check post and forward information to the next check post so that the pilgrims could be provided financial aid without delay. The District Magistrate also gave orders for making sufficient arrangement of food and water at the Sahastardhara helipad, the Jolly Grant airport and Rishikesh. Both District Magistrate and the SSP directed officers and employees to maintain calm and patience while giving information to the family members of the stranded pilgrims. District Forest Officer Sushant Patnaik, Additional District Magistrate Jharna Kamthan, SDM, Rishikesh, Ramjisharan and other officers were also present at the meeting.
|
|
Singhal: Leave Temple restoration to saints
Dehradun, June 24 ''In India secular governments never undertake restoration work. It should be carried out by seers and saints of Hinduism. The temples belong to seers and saints. It is their property,'' said Singhal, while
addressing the media. He said that no puja was being held at Kedarnath Temple for the past several days and a ''parayashit puja'' should be held at the temple and a havan in memory
of the dead. The patron of the Hindu outfit also lashed out at the government for going against the will of the saints and tunnelling the rivers
Ganga, Mandakini, Alaknanda and Bhagirithi. ''The Ganga should be declared a national heritage and the government should seek forgiveness and take a pledge for maintaining the purity and flow of the river Ganga,''said Singhal. He said that during the last Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, saints and seers of the country had held a small protest in support of their demand to not to make dams on the river Alaknanda, river Mandakini and river Bhagirithi but the government did not heed to their request. Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has organised relief camps for the affected at the railway stations of Haridwar and Dehradun and the bus stand of Rishikesh. They have also started making arrangements for sending relief to the affected people of the state living in villages.
|
|
CM’s assurance to relatives of stranded persons
Dehradun, June 24 He said the Army,the Indian Air Force, the ITBP, the NDRF and state police have rescued more than 80,00 pilgrims and still pilgrims are stranded at some places. He said rescue operations were hampered due to rains today. He said soon the names of all those who have been successfully rescued would be put on the official website and efforts are also made to put out a list of those still trapped on the official website. The relatives charged that for the past five days they are searching for their near and dear ones but no information is coming from any official.
|
|
Anxious relatives await arrival of calamity-hit pilgrims
Dehradun, June 24 said:'' I talked to my parents on June 16 last time. They told me that the weather had deteriorated and it had begun raining very heavily.'' They were putting up at Rajasthan Sadan Ashram there. ''Since that day onward, I have not been able to talk to them again,'' said Venkatesh, student of chartered accountancy. He showed a photograph of his father Vijayankar Lenka, mother Vani Lenka and grandmother Anjamma. Venkatesh came with his brother-in-law. Rakesh Kumar, resident of Barnala in Punjab, came to enquire about the whereabouts of four members of his friend's family members. He said:" My friend and some of us have come here to find out about four of our family members who have not been traced as yet.'' Another group of five members of his joint family came back after walking all the way from Kedarnath till Joshimath without food. He said Principal Secretary SS Sandhu helped them a lot by facilitating their meeting with Chief Secretary and officials of the districts where disaster relief work was being undertaken. Vinay Shukla, resident of Pilibhit, rushed each time to the choppers that landed at the helipad hoping to meet that his brother Ajay Shukla, District Assistant Election Officer, his parents, wife, two children and mother-in-law who went missing since June 17 from Kedarnath.
|
|
MC proposes amendment in Municipal Traffic Control Act
Mussoorie, June 24 The Municipal Council president, Manmohan Singh, during the discussion on the issue with the council members, said the old Act was unable to curb the vehicular movement on the Mall Road, therefore amendment in the Act was being felt earnestly. It was decided in the meeting to increase the fee from Rs 100 to Rs 300 to enter inside the Mall Road. The council also proposed to shut down the barriers at the Mall Moad for three months in winter season thus amending the existing arrangement in the town. Under new arrangements the goods vehicle entering the town will have to pay Rs 500 and if they enter the Mall Road then the fee would be around 1200-1500. The tariff for annual passes for the vehicles of the residents of the town has also been increased to Rs 500 for two wheelers and Rs 1000 for four-wheelers. However, the proposals would be passed only after hearing to the objections, if any, in near future.
|
||
|
Five-day training workshop on bamboo ringal begins
Dehradun, June 24 The chief guest Dr PP Bhojvaid, Director, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun,at the inauguration ceremony of the training programme spoke on the occasion about the multiple use of ringal and bamboo. He said an artisan can insure a magical utilisation of the bamboo and ringal. He emphasized that the aim of training should be an livelihood improvement of the rural society specially weaker sections. He told about the Prerna Souvenir Shop that may be medium in marketing of bamboo and ringal products. Dr RK Aima, Head, Extension Division, also expressed his views on utilisation of ringal and bamboo in his welcome address. He said during the training the interaction between trainees and other persons will certainly open the new channels for marketing of bamboo and ringal products. Dr Vimal Kothiyal, Asstt Director General, (Research Planning ), ICFRE told that such type of training programmes are also being conducted is other institutes of ICFRE so that the knowledge on bamboo and ringal handicrafts may be disseminated to maximum number of people through wide spectrum network. Course Director, Dr RK Aima, Head, Extension Division, Dr Vimal Kothiyal, ADG, ICFRE, AD Dhobal, consultant BTSG, Dr BM Dimri, Dr Charan Singh, Rambir Singh, PK Gupta were also present. The inaugural ceremony with the vote of thanks was given by Dr Charan Singh, Scientist-C Extension Division.
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
At a time when Uttarakhand is reeling under flash floods, there are few brave hearts who are still willing to visit the holy shrines again as and when the pilgrimage is restored.
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam today directed officials to provide adequate monetary assistance to the pilgrims brought to Rishikesh, the Jolly Grant airport and the Sahastardhara
helipad.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has assured the relatives of all those pilgrims, who have come to locate them, of all help. Talking to relatives of pilgrims who are yet to be located or their whereabouts are not yet known, at police lines, here today, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna assured that every effort would be made and all possible help extended to them in locating their relatives.
